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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 3d

Awesome feature from @markrendell.bsky.social on challenges & opportunities facing a new 'National Policy' for Canadian economic development to counter Trump: www.theglobeandmail.com/business/eco.... My take: "Canada’s former determination to be a boy scout in world trade no longer rules the roost."

Pushed by Trump, Canada enters a new era of economic nationalism

The U.S. President’s ‘America First’ economic vision is pushing Ottawa to reach for a Canada First toolkit – one that would have been inconceivable a year ago

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 5d

Here's a fact sheet from our Centre for Future Work in Canada on the state of minimum wage policy after the Oct.1 wage hikes in 5 provinces: centreforfuturework.ca/2025/10/01/h.... Includes nominal & real cross-province data, shows where we stand globally, & discusses needed improvements. #canlab

Happy Minimum Wage Day, Canada! - Centre for Future Work

Half of Canada’s provinces all increased their minimum wage on October 1: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. So this is a good occasion to celebrate the importance...

centreforfuturework.ca

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

So on this big minimum wage day, let's celebrate the important effects of this vital policy, which improves the lives of millions of low-wage workers. And let's call on governments (starting with Alberta!) to go further, faster.

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

In some cases, higher minimum wages can actually *increase* employment, eg.:
- persistent aggregate demand weakness (sparking wage-led growth)
- monopsony, preventing dominant employers (like Amazon) from curtailing hiring to suppress wages. /7

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

The economics of the minimum wage have gone through a dramatic sea-change in the last generation. New empirical research (eg. by Canadian-born Nobel Prize economist David Card) showed the employment effects of gradual increases in min wages are negligible. #cdnecon /6

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

Living wage projects in various provinces have calculated the wage (~mid $20s) required to allow a family (usually 2 full-time year-round wage earners with 2 kids) to cover the costs of a basic standard of living:
eg. Ontario: ontariolivingwage.ca
B.C.: livingwagebc.ca /5

ontariolivingwage.ca

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

Globally, Canada's min wages (averaged across provinces) are not high relative to domestic price & wage levels. The minimum wage "bite" measures the min as a % of median wages. By this standard Canada (with min = 50% median) ranks 21st out of 30 OECD countries with min wages. /4

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

Many provinces now tie annual min wage increments to changes in the CPI. That's not enough, cuz it locks in wages that are too low. However, over the last 5 years MOST provinces have done better: the real min wage grew in most provinces (again, Alta is the painful exception). /3

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 6d

5 provinces increased their minimum wages today. So let's celebrate this mainstay tool of labour market regulation with a few fun facts. B.C. retains its crown, holding the highest prov min wage (Nunavut & Yukon higher). Alberta now takes sole possession of last spot. #canlab /2

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 7d

4 provinces will increase their minimum wages effective tomorrow (Oct 1). I'll join @mattgalloway.bsky.social on CBC's The Current 930am-ish to discuss the effects of minimum wages in reducing low-incomes, and the sea-change in economic thinking about them in recent years. #canlab #cdnecon

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 8d

Here's a regular update from our Centre for Future Work on our latest research outputs, including a report on the recent 'Elbows Up Economic Summit': mailchi.mp/e1eda292e122.... Sign up to receive updates directly at centreforfuturework.ca/contact/. #canlab

Keeping our Elbows Up for the Economy… and other updates from the Centre for Future Work

mailchi.mp

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Reposted by Jim Stanford

Paul DeCampo @pauldecampo.bsky.social · 9d

Canadians should repatriate our investments,, especially the pension funds.

Canada has a net positive investment balance with the U.S. of $1.6 trillion, or 50 per cent of our GDP.

@jimbostanford.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/business/let...

Jim Stanford: Let’s help Donald Trump reduce his trade deficit … by bringing our capital home

Canada’s capital flows to the U.S. make the trade deficits possible.

www.thestar.com

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 10d

In the last decade, Canada's gone from net borrower to net lender with the U.S., now running a $1.6t net credit. We discuss the causes of this shift, and the opportunity to repatriate capital as part of our response to Trump, in the 'Elbows Up Factbook': www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 10d

US trade deficits are not the result of 'unfair treatment' as Trump claims, but ongoing capital inflows to the U.S.--including from Canada. We can help him reduce that deficit by bringing our capital home. My take for @thestar.com: thestar.com/business/let... #cdnecon /2

Jim Stanford: Let’s help Donald Trump reduce his trade deficit … by bringing our capital home

Canada’s capital flows to the U.S. make the trade deficits possible.

thestar.com

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Reposted by Jim Stanford

CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 12d

ICYMI: Why the prospect of new export pipeline as a magic bullet to fend off Trump’s economic aggression is political theatre that distracts from the real economic dangers Trump has exposed. By @jimbostanford.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/o...

Pipeline politics won’t save us from Trump’s threats

Jim Stanford Troy Media The federal and provincial governments are scrambling to shield Canada’s economy from U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest trade

lethbridgeherald.com

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 16d

For a full list of our great Summit speakers, our end-of-day Communique, and the background Factbook, visit: policyalternatives.ca/news-researc.... Stay tuned for a compendium of submissions, launched with a webinar in October.

Elbows Up Economic Summit - CCPA

Summit Communique EN Summit Communique FR 9:00 Arrival & Coffee 9:30 Introduction: ELBOWS UP – OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS• Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Overview (chairs)• Duncan Cameron, President Em...

policyalternatives.ca

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 16d

I had a great chat with the tireless Marc Belanger this week for @rabblecat.bsky.social’s Radio Labour about our ‘Elbows Up Economic Summit’ and what comes next for Canada's economy. Give it a listen: rabble.ca/podcast/how-.... #canlab /2

How Canada can fight the Trump economic attacks

An Elbows Up Summit attended by progressive economists and policy analysts was held Sept. 15 to plan Canada's response to Trump's attacks.

rabble.ca

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 17d

I'll join thousands of trade unionists & allies in person & virtually today at 2pmET to celebrate Buzz Hargrove & thank him for his immense contributions to our movement. Sign up to join online here: unifor.org/news/events/.... Thank you & go well Buzz.🙏💔#canlab
@unifor.org

Celebration of Life for Buzz Hargrove

In celebration of Buzz Hargrove’s extraordinary, storied life and enduring influence, we welcome members of our Unifor family to come together to reflect on his profound impact and incredible legacy.

unifor.org

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Reposted by Jim Stanford

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17d

There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.

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Reposted by Jim Stanford

rabble.ca @rabble.ca · 18d

How should Canada respond to Trump’s economic attacks? Economist @jimbostanford.bsky.social joins RadioLabour to lay out a progressive plan. #canlab #canpoli

rabble.ca/podcast/how-...

How Canada can fight the Trump economic attacks

An Elbows Up Summit attended by progressive economists and policy analysts was held Sept. 15 to plan Canada's response to Trump's attacks.

rabble.ca

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 19d

What a rich & evidence-based review by @ghadaa.bsky.social for @thestar.com of recent wild claims about the TFW program: www.thestar.com/news/canada/.... Yes, it was unduly expanded (under both Harper & Trudeau) and needs big changes. But blaming TFWs for the labour market's funk is a lie. #canlab

Pierre Poilievre says the temporary foreign worker program is stealing jobs from Canadians. We fact-check some of the most frequent claims about it

What experts say about recent social media claims and comments from Canadian MPs who want to scrap the controversial temporary foreign worker program.

www.thestar.com

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 19d

See the full report: ccg.eco/wp-content/u.... #canlab #cdnecon

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 19d

More details from @yahoofinance.com on our new report with Centre for Civic Governance about the enormous jobs potential for building trades workers from investments in the energy transition: finance.yahoo.com/news/report-.... 6.3 to 9.5m person-years of construction work over next 25 yrs. /2

Report from Green Jobs BC Projects Huge Job Growth in Building Trades as Canada Moves to Low-Carbon Economy Amidst U.S. Tariffs

Investments to support Canada's net-zero commitments by 2050 could generate up to 9.5 million job years of construction work, or 350,000 ongoing new jobs. VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 17, 2025 /CNW/ - Meetin...

finance.yahoo.com

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 21d

Even better, these investments help insulate the economy against Trump's trade war. At the same time, enhancing supply of clean energy will also support value-adding exports like manufacturing & tech. This should be at the top of our nation-building economic agenda. #cdnecon

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Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · 21d

That's a step increase in employment of 20-30% for building trades employment. Sean Strickland from @cdntrades.bsky.social sums it up perfectly: "Canada’s transition to a cleaner economy represents one of the most significant job creation opportunities in our country’s history." #canlab /4

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